Clinical Rotations

Madonna Rehabilitation Hospitals offers clinical rotations for students in our Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Speech therapy departments, as well as Madonna’s Institute for Rehabilitation Science and Engineering. Madonna has a tradition of employing the best clinicians in rehabilitation care. To continue this tradition, we collaborate with schools throughout the country that consistently produce top students.

Madonna Rehabilitation Hospitals requires interviews for students interested in applying for a clinical rotation. In addition, students must be currently enrolled at an accredited school (physical therapy, physical therapist assistant, occupational therapy, occupational therapist assistant, recreational therapy or speech therapy). For undergraduate or pre-professional students inquiring about shadowing hours, please contact the volunteer office to coordinate these experiences at 402.413.4500.

Madonna makes final decisions regarding student placement for clinical rotations with emphasis on those students expressing goals and objectives similar to our core values and expertise. If you are a student interested in completing a rotation at one of our facilities, please check with your school first to verify that there is an established contract. If there is a contract, please request that your school contact the appropriate clinical coordinator listed below to request an affiliation. If you represent a university looking to establish a clinical rotation, please contact the appropriate clinical coordinator listed below.

One of the most unique experiences available to students is the opportunity to participate in an integrated clinical and research project with Madonna’s Institute for Rehabilitation Science and Engineering.

Groundbreaking technology, combined with a strong research and clinical team, form the backbone of our four Centers of Excellence:

The Movement and Neurosciences Center

The Communication Center

The Clinical Informatics Center

The Rehabilitation Engineering Center

The Research Institute has pioneered clinical affiliations, which include an integrated clinical collaboration with top universities. Currently, Judith Burnfield, PT, Ph.D., collaborates with multiple academic institutions and her students have participated as authors for five manuscripts and 30 abstracts to date. Physical therapy students from the University of Southern California, Creighton University, and University of Florida are involved in unique, 16-week hybrid rotations that include a split between inpatient rehabilitation and clinical research.

Madonna Rehabilitation Hospitals is pleased to offer on-site student housing at a discounted rate.. The unit is fully furnished and features five bedrooms, three baths, a full kitchen, dining room, living room, recreation and study space, free laundry, and free off-street parking. All utilities, including Wi-Fi, are included at a low rate of $8/day.

Actual comments from former students about our housing and clinical opportunities include the following:

"I would highly recommend Madonna to any student, not only for the high quality education standpoint, but for the way in which they respect and treat their students. I felt nothing but respect and valued as a team member throughout my rotation here. That is unique in many aspects as a student and a high selling point in being a teaching hospital." –University of North Dakota OT student, Class of 2011

“Being from out of state, I was nervous about going somewhere for clinical so far away from home. Living in the student house was a great thing for me. Not only did it give me somewhere to live in a town I didn’t know, but it also allowed me to get closer to the other students. Having other students at the same site as you that are open and willing to throw around ideas with each other really brought an added bonus to this clinical. I feel like I learned a lot from my CI and the staff at Madonna but that I also learned a lot from my fellow students. “ —University of Southern California DPT Student, Class of 2011

“Since I’m from out of state, the camaraderie and support I found while living with other students was enormously helpful during my internship and during my stay in Nebraska. Living so close to Madonna made it easy to stay late when necessary since my commute was just a 5-minute walk. At Madonna, physical therapy is everything I’ve learned it should be. It is a model for teamwork with daily communication among all disciplines, the well-being of the patient is placed as the highest priority, there is an emphasis on life-long learning, and I observed quality, up-to-date evidence-based practice. I noticed all these things before I noticed the core ethics posted on the wall. I was impressed with how the mission statement and core values were so well embodied. In short, it was an excellent place for a student learning experience. I learned a great deal not only from my CI and patients, but from observing other clinicians and team members.” —University of Florida DPT Student, Class of 2011

If selected for an inpatient clinical rotation, possibilities of team placement could include acute rehabilitation (traumatic brain injury (TBI), spinal cord injury (SCI), cerebral vascular accident (CVA)), long term acute care hospital (LTACH), transitional care unit (TCU), or the Alexis Verzal Children’s Rehabilitation Unit. If selected for an outpatient rotation, possibilities of team placement might include: Rehabilitation Day Program, outpatient sites, or Madonna's medically based wellness center called ProActive. ProActive houses one of the outpatient facilities and a nationally certified cardiac rehabilitation program.